The Argosy — page 235: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

218 Featherston’s Story. ‘¢ No,” she answered quietly. ‘‘T must trouble you to do so, when breakfast shall be finished. *T cannot,” pursued Lavinia. ‘‘I have paid it away.” “That I do not believe. I claim it from you in right of my wife; — and I shall enforce the claim.” “The money is Nancy’s, not yours,” said Lavinia. ‘‘In con- sequence of your having stopped her share last quarter in London, I was plunged here into debt and great inconvenience. Yesterday morning I went out to settle the debts—and it has taken the whole of her money to do it. That is the state of things, Captain Fennel.” “T am in debt here myself,” retorted he, but not angrily, “I owe money to my tailor and bootmaker; I owe an account at the — chemist’s; I want money in my pockets—and I must, indeed, Naverit.. | ‘* Not from me,” returned Lavinia. Edwin Fennel broke into a little access of temper. He dashed his serviette on the table, strode to the window, and roughly caught his wife by the arm. She cried out. ‘¢ How dared you hand your money to anyone but me?” he asked in a low voice of passion. | * But how are we to live if I don’t give it to Lavinia for the housekeeping ?” returned Nancy, bursting into tears. ‘It take: all we have; her share and mine; every farthing of it.” Paver my sister alone, Mr. F ennel,” spoke up Lavinia witt authority. ‘“‘ She is responsible for the debts we contract in this house just as much as I am, and she must contribute her part to pay them You ought to be aware that the expenses are now increased by nearl a third; I assure you I hardly like to face the difficulties I sei before me.” ‘‘Do you suppose I can stop in the place without some loose ee! to keep me going?” he asked calmly. ‘Is that reasonable, Mis Lavinia P” ( ‘* And do you suppose I can keep you and Ann here without he money to help me to do it?” she rejoined. ‘* Perhaps the bette plan will be for me to take up my abode elsewhere, and leave th: house to you and Ann to do as you please in it.” Captain Fennel dropped his argument, returned to the table an went on with his breakfast. The last words had startled him. Witt out Lavinia, which meant without her money, they could not live I the house at all. Matters were partly patched up in the course of the day. Nanc came upstairs to Lavinia, begging and praying, as if she were prayiD for her life, for a little ready money for her husband—just a hundré francs. Trembling and sobbing, she confessed that she dared n¢ return to him without it; she should be too frightened at his anger And Lavinia gave it to her. (6) JOOKS._ COM = a